Homemade Holidays DIY Gift Guide: For Kids (Part 1)

Next up in the “Homemade Holidays DIY Gift Guide” series is my favorite – homemade Christmas gifts for kids. Maybe it’s because I get to live vicariously through them during the holidays, picking out gifts that I know I would’ve loved when I was little. Or maybe it’s because there is seriously nothing better in the world than watching a child tinker with and enjoy something that came from our own hands and hearts on Christmas morning.

There are no slim pickin’s in the DIY gifts for kids category, but if you have a great idea that I haven’t covered in the roundup , share it with everyone in the comments section below (links welcome)! And don’t forget to come back for part 2 of the DIY kids gift guide!

1. Homemade Playdough: Seriously, is there anything better than playdough? This is THE easiest homemade gift ever, in the history of ever. And I have yet to come across a child who would turn a cheek to the awesomeness of playdough, so I’m pretty sure this gift’s a winner.

Homemade Playdough Recipe via howdoesshe.com

2. Recycled Crayons: What parent doesn’t have a junk pile of broken crayons lying around? This is my favorite way to upcycle those sad little nibs into something better. I’m sure you’ve seen the version of this where they get melted into muffin tins, but the use of the pretzel molds for a more proper grip is ingenious.

4. Felt Play Mats: Materials needed: felt, scissors, glue gun, imagination. We have an Ikea road rug that I thought was the bee’s knees, but this seriously trumps any road rug in cool-factor. The best part about this project is that you can tailor it to fit the child’s interests, so the possibilities are endless.

Felt Mats via kimboscrafts.blogspot.com

5. A Box of Rocks: I once gave my kids a box full of dried beans. They pulled out some construction vehicles, little Disney princess dolls, plastic animals, and assorted scooping mechanisms (aka my measuring cups & other kitchen utensils) and played with the box of beans for a month straight. It amazed me how much fun they had, but then again, these are the kids who play with the cardboard boxes more than the toys that came inside. If you’ve got one of “those” kids (yeah you do), this gift is ideal. And redonkulously inexpensive. Don’t knock it til you try it.

"Under Construction" Box via pinkandgreenmama.blogspot.com

6. Invention Kit Bags: Kids love to make stuff, give them the materials to exercise their imagination and invent away! Stuff a child’s stocking with an invention kit and feed their need to create. I’ve actually made a pact with myself to give something like this as gifts for every child’s birthday party we ever attend for the rest of my children’s early childhood lives (parent-friends of mine, take note and kindly act surprised when your kids unwraps this from us). If it’s birthday gift-friendly, then it’s most certainly Christmas gift-friendly!

Invention Kit Bags via filthwizardry.com

7. I-Spy Bottle: Gift this to a child on Christmas, and don’t be surprised if they eternally tune you out as they sit quietly in a corner, inspecting the contents of their new I-Spy bottle. This DIY gift could not be easier and it’s super inexpensive, making it a must on your list of homemade Christmas to-do’s.

I-Spy Bottle Tutorial via meetthedubiens.com

8. Dollhouse Out of Drawers: Doll house that doesn’t cost $100? Okay! What I actually love the most about this project is that you can make it gender neutral or little guy-friendly instead of plastering it in pink. One of my son’s favorite activities is to play with my daughter’s Calico Critters house, so I guarantee you that boys are hardwired to enjoy these things just as much as girls. So don’t let the name fool you, “doll”houses can also moonlight as fire stations, factories, evil villain hideouts, pet shops, grocery stores, hospitals, castles (and/or dungeons), etc.

Homemade Dollhouse Tutorial via nicegirlnotes.com

What homemade gifts are you making for the little kids in your life this holiday season? Let us know in the comments section below!

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